(CNN) – Penn State has had its share of controversy for a while, but this week it is getting some more unwanted attention.

The university's Chi Omega sorority chapter is under investigation after a photo with Mexican stereotypes surfaced on a social media site.

It shows a group of sorority members dressed in ponchos and sombreros and wearing fake mustaches. One woman holds a sign that says: "Will mow lawn for weed + beer." Another sign says: "I don't cut grass. I smoke it."

The university's Panhellenic Council said it had received concerns about the photo and that the council does not condone derogatory behavior from members.

"The Penn State Panhellenic Council recognizes the offensive nature of the photo and is therefore taking the matter very seriously," the executive board said in a statement.

"We are addressing the situation immediately with the members of the chapter in conjunction with their national headquarters," it said. "Our council and all its members strive to hold ourselves to a high standard and are disappointed by any failure to meet these expectations."

“Our chapter of Chi Omega sincerely apologizes for portraying inappropriate and untrue stereotypes," she said. "The picture in question does not support any of Chi Omega’s values or reflect what the organization aspires to be."

The connections to the sorority were discovered through members' names tagged on Facebook, Onward State said. The posts have since been taken down.

Penn State public relations director Lisa Powers said that university officials have had conversations with Chi Omega members and that the women have expressed "deep remorse."

"The students in the photo are within their First Amendment rights to express themselves in this way, although we are certainly appalled that they would display this level of insensitivity and lack of judgment," Powers said.

"Because the right of free expression is guaranteed under the Constitution – for both behaviors we disagree with or for those that we support – we are approaching this as a teachable moment to engage this group of young women in discussions about their actions and to further educate them about diversity issues," she said.

Powers said the national leadership of Chi Omega will have to decide if disciplinary action is warranted.

A statement from Chi Omega headquarters said, "Personal degradation has no place in our organization, even if such behavior is meant facetiously or in jest. The Chi Omega national organization is taking this situation very seriously and is being thoughtful and deliberate regarding any sanctions or educational directives for the chapter."

At least one student at Penn State demanded a direct apology from Chi Omega to all Latinos.

"This is not a joke. This is our culture," said Ariel Coronel, president of the Penn State Latino Caucus.

She was shocked when she first saw the photo and said the signs the women were holding were especially offensive.

"There's a huge drug war going on in Mexico and you have a sign that says, 'We will mow lawns for weed and beer,' " Coronel said. "It's wrong on so many levels. How can you think this is OK?"

The reactions to the incident varied on Twitter. Here are two:

@ChiOmegaPSU The incredible amount of racism put into your "mexican" party was disgusting.

To say this is not hateful is completely stupid. Go crawl back into your bottle until after you graduate, they be shell shocked when you come into modern society and get fired for stupidity like this in a workplace.

And I thought that collegiate societies were meant to expand the social worldview of their members and prepare them to be well-connected professionals. By the looks of it, getting them ready to shell peas in front of a singlewide with a Maverick menthol sticking out of the sides of their mouths seems more like it.

Shame on these girls, who are supposed to be young women, not silly children getting a quality, expensive education at Penn State, one of the finest universities in America. Shame on their behavior because as an educator of young children, I know each of those girls were taught some values by a parent or a teacher when they were 7,8 maybe 9 years old...the age of reason I will add...that you are to respect others and do unto others as you would like done unto you. Drinking...or a "cutsey" little aren't we cute photo op. just doesn't cut it for me! Grow up and be worthwhile GIRLS. Who took the photo, by the way??? What was that person actually thinking???...oh, nobody was "thinking" that night at all.

The problem here is not the way they're dressed or even having a Mexican Day. The problem is the signs. I can't believe people are defending this picture. So if they were dressed as black girls with signs saying "back of the bus" that would be acceptable too? No, of course not. But to some posters on here it sure would be.

First of all remember that USA is the biggest drug-consumer country in the world. If someone sells is because someone consume...Second: Your americans are always thinking that latinos come to your country, but, How many americans are ready to clean bathrooms, work with very low salaries, without any rights? You relay on the immigrant workers even to clean your house, because you can do it for yourself. Third: If some University in other country publishes something against American Army, or American people? How you will react?. You think that you are the first country in the world because you have money and a dirty, values-empty society ...But there are people and countries that dont have money but something that you never will have: A culture, traditions, and MORAL values.

What pits us against each other, are things that are most common to all of us, regardless of race or ethnicitiy. It is important that we all have the freedom to express ourselves, whether we agree with these opinions or not. In turn, we should all have the freedom to openly express our counter opinion, with out prejudice. Or, we could have a very "polite" society and not express anything that would negatively impact anyone else. I suspect we would have a pretty quiet society.
I think we should be able to contiue to evolve as a society, and accpet the fact that people do and say insensative things, but are not motived by malice. So for those that are personnely negatively impacted by this photo, feel free to express your feelings. The rest of you go back inside, there is nothing here.

Personally? I'd prefer a society where it doesn't cross anyone's mind to negatively stereotype people who aren't like them.

At the very least, I'd prefer a society that actually thinks about the effects of the words they use when referring to people who are 'different' than they are, rather than just seeing it as an "opportunity" for discussion.. You know. Words like n1gger and crippled and f@ggot and...well, you get my drift.

The two signs weren't necessary, and I'll bet those girls would have had just as much fun without them.

Hmmm...strange that I never see these types of stories around St. Patrick's Day. I guess it's okay to completely smear & stereotype a culture as long as its members are white. My suggestion to the folks who were offended by this; get the heck over it. Millions of folks w/Irish heritage brush off ignorance on an annual basis without so much as a peep. Then again, we came to America & made our own luck. American first, Irish Always.

Hey Paine Sense, when the stereotype depicts something that is unflattering – like cutting grass or eating beans – then that's when it's wrong. St. Patrick's day is about wearing green and drinking beer. You don't see anybody making fun of Ireland's potato famine.

This is beyond stupid!!! Why on earth would a Mexican have to act white????? Give me a reson as to why Mexican should stop being who they are to please people like you. If Mexicans were to act white we wouldn't have food, roads, buildings...(let me narrow it down for you -we wouldn't have anything!!!) You stop and think about what you have before you go criticize, judge, and talk stupid about Mexicans. Who not only work to feed their family but also to work for the necessity of those white people who would never be able to work in the kind of fields Mexicans work in.

As a Mexican American I am not offended by this picture. I think we need to lighten up. Yes there is a big drug war that is funded by many people like the ones on the photo. Yes they are stereotyping Mexicans from the north. But to be offended by this is a little too much. Mexican jokes are my favorite jokes. I love it when my friends of different ethnicity tell me a Mexican joke. To be honest I chuckled when I saw this photo. The truth is I know that if this was a group of Mexicans or even brown people this would have not made headlines. The fact is these girls are mainly white and having fun with other cultures. I don't want an apology. In fact they should have another Mexican party and have real authentic Mexican food and real Mexican Tequila. None of this Patron crap. The real racists here are the people that care what another ethnicity does or says.

That is a real weak way to avoid having to recognize that you are being made fun of. As for me, I have a strong sense of self-respect as a Mexican American and don't appreciate the motive here. Do you think they would do this in a neighborhood populated my Mexicans? No, they do it in the comfort of their priviledged and secluded quarters where they know they can surround themselves with people who aren't going to call them out on just being rude. I grew up where the population was 98% Hispanic and now attend an Ivy League school. The contrast of demographics, as you can imagine, is incredible and I can definitely tell when things are done in jest and when they are meant to degrade an image. Do you honestly think they sat around and had a constructive conversation about how the Mexican government can improve their international appeal for the sake of their dying tourism or solve the drug cartel corruption in the military? Please man, don't just roll over and shake hands when your value is being mocked.

Here's a specist comment. All humans are pretty stupid. It's funny b'cause so many of them think they are smart. They live in their own little world never looking too far beyond their tiny noses. No wonder they think they are at the center of everything!

Mob mentality. Dumb 19 year old girls who just want to party. I wonder if anyone in this Penn State sorority stopped and said: "Um, isn't this a racist theme? Um, I've got other plans that night. Sorry, guys."

Did anyone else besides me notice that there are at least three and perhaps four hispanic girls in the picture? This strikes me as a major overreaction to typical college silliness. After all Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong build a whole career, which they continue to be well regarded for by the way, for exactly the same type of humor sans sombreros.

My goodness, why are there so many dumb comments on this story? How in the heck do you know which girls are Hispanic in this grainy, low quality picture? So using your logic: If they were making fun of black people and were wearing slave shackles, and if one of the girls was black, then it would be totally OK. Is that your thinking?

Hispanic/Latino is not an ethnicity, but a blanket term for several different ethnicities (i.e. Puerto Rican, Mexican, Domincan, etc.), just as white is a blanket term for all ethnicities within the breadth of European.

The only reason this photo has surfaced and made "news" is because these women are members of a sorority. How many other people (high school, college, professionals) have dressed up as mexicans before? Heck, mexican costumes are even sold at stores nation wide, but no one makes a scene when an average joe posts a photo of himself on Facebook dressed in a poncho and sombrero slugging tequila. Of course, these women are completely wrong and have embarrassed themselves and anyone who wears greek letters, however this photo is only a big deal because it is a sorority.

It is a shame that these women are perpetuating the tacky stereotype that sororities consist only of party animals and ignorant girls, but that is not the truth. The photo is extremely offensive of course, but I am sure that was not their intention. Also, as a member of a sorority myself, one that upholds its ideals to the highest standards, I implore people to be forgiving. Not ALL sororities do these things and I just hope that greek letters do not become synonymous with insensitivity because of one such act.

Seriously? This makes the news? People, get over yourselves. Boo hoo. Every culture, religion, race has been enslaved, or slave holders. People make fun, tease, mock, oh well.....
There are atrocities today, everywhere, and you are worried about some kids spoofing a culture? You need to look on the internet about 30 seconds to find 1,000's of items actually worthy of outrage....this ain't one of them.

What do these girls know about ethnicity where they were raised in a non-pluralistic society. Of course they will make fun of other ethnicity. These girls KNOW that they should not have denigrate the African American culture. Obviously they are not making fun of the AA girls. But they don't know enough about other cultures.
They seem not to be able to comprehend the concept that being RACIST is not fashionable. As a nation we have moved past this or we ARE TRYING Very hard to move away from it.

Cool. I never knew that. I think Cinco de Mayo is hyped up by liquor companies and restaurants to bump up sales of their products before summer. In the same vein, almost, as "Black Friday" for partiers.

"we are approaching this as a teachable moment to engage this group of young women in discussions about their actions and to further educate them about diversity issues," she said."

Now this is effin funny. The school is going educate these girls for doing what the first amendment allows them to do.

I swear, white liberals are white people worst nightmare. White people shouldn't worry about blacks, or any other group thats out to destroy them. They should be worry about white liberals, because it is this very group that will destroy white people.

I would encourage evryone to make more of these jokes so that the white liberals would destroy white people sooner. Who's with me?

RacistsGoneWild, clearly you missed the point. This is not about the first amendment. No on denied them the right to express/write what they felt. I do not understand how you got to that point. Please enlighten. I look forward to making all your points sound ridiculous.

I know I'm probably not the first one to say it, but I'm am sick of these silly over privileged white girls. (I'm white btw) Maybe they should spend more time educating themselves about cultural diversity at the University that I'm sure their Indulgent parents are paying for instead of spending so much time on their identical blowout hairdos, short shorts and spray tans. It's the superficiality and ignorance of so many young women today that drives me nuts. Susan B. Anthony is rolling over in her grave.

White Latino, racism does not mean necessarily mean discriminating on the basis of race. Racism is also used to describe discrimination on an ethnic or cultural basis, independent from whether these differences are racial. Your entire point of Mexicans not being a race is moot. Racism can still affect Mexicans based on ethnic or cultural discrimination.

I believe that all this racism needs to stop because darlings if you havent noticed were everywhere and The United States of America depends on us so i dont think you want people getting offended over your disgusting pictures!

It is not racism. It is inappropriate. Latino/Hispanic is an ethnicity, not a race. Mexican and Canadian are nationalities. According to the Pew Hispanic survey, 36% of Latinos identify their race as white.

White Latino, racism does not mean necessarily mean discriminating on the basis of race. Racism is also used to describe discrimination on an ethnic or cultural basis, independent from whether these differences are racial. Your entire point of Mexicans not being a race is moot. Racism can still affect Mexicans based on ethnic or cultural discrimination.

You need to learn to coexist. Illegal now or illegal 200 years ago? The indigenous people of this land would haul you out and hang you by your feet according to your own laws of illegal aliens. You would be called a foreign invader.

These stereotypes portrayed are not funny or helpful in any way. There is a fine line between stereotypes and racism, and it is very thin. Stereotypes have been used to justify many historical atrocities. During the slavery era, the pervading stereotype was that African Americans were unintelligent, subpar, and scientifically not "human". These "facts" justified slavery.

Seriously, you need educating. A. Slavery was first and foremost about economic. No one in their right mind wants to own another person for fun, unless it save them money, or making money for them. B. these girls were having fun and C. Mexican is not a race.

As for stereotyping, I can assured you that almost all day laborers I know are Mexican. It maybe stereotyped in your little bubble, but it's the reality for many of these day laborers. I know because I hire them.

For some reason, CNN cut off the rest of my post. This was part of a bigger point I was trying to make. I will put up the rest when I get home. But first, let me address your points. (A) I do agree that slavery was first and foremost for economic profit. But you would be naive to think that negative racial stereotypes did not play a role in justifying the use of slavery. There is a plethora of evidence that points to what Whites thought of blacks as a way to validate slavery. (B) I agree that the girls were having fun. I doubt they meant this with malicious intent. But having fun at the expense of others is not excusable. Nor is ignorance. You can have fun doing so many other things than unfairly portray an ethnic minority. These ladies will be our future leaders, neighbors, coworkers, and if future race relations are to get better, claiming ignorance and having "fun" is a flimsy defense. (c) And yes, Mexican is not a race. (This requires another long subject; the concept of race is extremely debatable) However, they can be considered an ethnic group. And racism is discrimination on an ethnic or cultural basis, independent of whether these differences are described as racial.

As for stereotypes, I can assure you that all white people are racist. It may be stereotyped in your little bubble, but its the reality for many of these people. I know because I always hear white people disparage other minorities. (In case you couldn't tell I was not being serious) This just shows how ridiculous your second argument is based on. You suffer from the logical fallacy of over generalization. Clearly, you need some educating.

Latino is an ethnicity, not a race. Mexican is a nationality. According to the Pew Hispanic center, 36% of Latinos identify their race as white. This isn't a racist photograph (inappropriate? yes) and in no way has anything whatsoever to do with slavery.

White Latino, racism does not mean necessarily mean discriminating on the basis of race. Racism is also used to describe discrimination on an ethnic or cultural basis, independent from whether these differences are racial. Your entire point of Mexicans not being a race is moot. Racism can still affect Mexicans based on ethnic or cultural discrimination.

And by reinforcing these stereotypes, a whole nation decided to systematically kill an entire ethnic group. (Do you see why these stereotypes can be dangerous?) I can't say much about Cheech and Chong because I don't know about it. Or about Boardwalk Empire. But the point is, its sad to see you defend this. Images like these reinforce negative untrue stereotypes and lead to strained racial relationships in the U.S. It goes against the very ideal that "all men are created equal". I truly hope that you have learned a little bit. This is not a colorblind society that you may think it is. Please educate yourself for the good of this country.

Please get educated, please read the definition of stereotype. After you do that realize that the reason the word exist is because it's TRUE. And just because someone is having fun with it doesn't make it offensive. I have paid a mexican with weed to mow my lawn. He was happy to take it. Ignorance hides the truth and its people that refuse to see the truth that are ignorant.

david, this post was meant as a reply for Telwell. You can read my responses. And yes I do know the definition of stereotype...Do you??? A stereotype is a thought or generalization about specific types of individuals, but that belief may or may not accurately reflect reality. So a stereotype DOESN'T MEAN ITS TRUE. And I agree, having fun doesn't have to be offensive but this image is. Stereotypes have justified historical atrocities, such as slavery (Africans were thought to be subpar/ not human), internment camps (Asians were thought to be disloyal to America), and the Holocaust (Germans blamed their economic downturn on Jews who were stereotyped as stingy money grubbers). Your one instance where you paid a Mexican weed to mow your lawn does not mean that for all Mexicans. Your defense gives credence to other bigoted people who may use this to justify whatever unfair generalizations they have towards other ethnic minorities. Instead of defending this as a joke, or telling people to be less sensitive, why not tell others to be less ignorant? When we understand each others' cultures, maybe we can more forward as a nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

If this weren't a Penn State sorority then it wouldn't be getting anywhere near this level of attention. It's just some dumb college kids being politically incorrect and expressing their overall ignorance.

anyone surprised by any of this has clearly neer been to college. Stupid theme parties drug humor, etc etc is the norm. Not saying Mexican jokes are ok,not at all, BUT all the people acting shocked and outraged that a bunch of college kids would wear sombreros and act like this have never walked down a bar street on Cinco De Mayo. "If this is shocking, somebody has been living a cave for 40 years."

So as an Irishman, should I be offended on March 17th when every fool and their brother runs around all cities and town in Canada, the US and every where else getting completely waisted on green beer and yelling Paddy with every second breath? Should we ban Cheech and Chong movies? Every mob movie? Boardwalk Empire? How about we refrain from using the word Chicago. No more accounting or money related comments about our wonderful Jewish communities, not even if they joke about it themselves no more head dresses on non-native/first nations people, no more red neck jokes about Texans, we can't dude or radical when referring to Californians... shall I continue? I noticed a few Spanish Americans in that photo, are they now kicked out of the their own culture???

Telwell, the picture is offensive because it unfairly stereotypes Mexicans as people who mow lawns and smoke weed. Whether or not you want to be offended when people call you paddy is up to you. However, I would like to point out that during the 1800’s Irish Catholics were unfairly discriminated against by Protestant Americans. The Irish were subject to misrepresentations of their religious and cultural beliefs; their folklore and customs were ridiculed and were considered to be demonic. NINA signs (No Irish Need Apply) were extremely prevalent. (Is this starting to sound a little familiar?) And for your Texan or California stereotype it does not carry the same degree as racial stereotypes do. There are many stigmatizations (religion, region, etc) but membership in a racial minority can be considered neither self induced nor alterable. Poverty can be eliminated, but color cannot.

Also, I would like to point out that after the 1800's, the Irish became more integrated into society. Today's racism is different because there is a distinct color contrast between ethnic minorities like Latinos, Blacks, and Asians to Whites, than there is to Irish and Whites. As for your Jews comment, you can definitely talk about accounting or money just like to any other person. However, to make unfair generalizations like Jews are stingy is ridiculous and I don't think that it is very funny. You may think it is funny, but there is a bloody history behind these stereotypes that you may espouse and reinforce. When Germany went down in the dumps, Hitler scapegoated the Jews blaming them for the economic downturn by using these well known stereotypes.

And by reinforcing these stereotypes, a whole nation decided to systematically kill an entire ethnic group. (Do you see why these stereotypes can be dangerous?) I can't say much about Cheech and Chong because I don't know about it. Or about Boardwalk Empire. But the point is, its sad to see you defend this. Images like these reinforce negative untrue stereotypes and lead to strained racial relationships in the U.S. It goes against the very ideal that "all men are created equal". I truly hope that you have learned a little bit. This is not a colorblind society that you may think it is. Please educate yourself for the good of this country.

It can be seen in two ways ,, they are white and just because of that they can make fun of us Mexicans we can understand that we Mexicans have so much jokes at your ex..... what I don't approve and understand is the sign do they knew how many thousands had died in the hands of the drug cartels? or they can be plain stupid and post the picture when they already know that is going to cause some troubles but again they are just PLAIN STUPID,,I bet their parents who are paying for their education are really proud of them. What makes me sad is that this bright girls are our future...... by the looks of thins we are DOOM

Guess i'll dress up as the KKK for Halloween as a joke. It'll be ok because I meant it "to be funny" and people need to stop being so "pc". I expect those who think the picture is funny to defend me...

I guess if we are going to go to that extreme we can start by wearing costumes that depict almost every religious stereo type as well... because none of them have blood on their hands... my point being as far from relevant to the images as the KKK's is.

This isn't 1950, you think whites don't get their share of racist jokes or stereotypes? Puh leez, I sat right in a mexican restaurant and listened to the waitress talk smack about the white customers in spanish. I didn't go home and cry to cnn about it, I thanked her for her thoughtless comments in spanish. The irish are pretty white and we mock them every year with a day of green beer and drunken stupidity, do you see the media jumping that bandwagon? There are a number of different nationalities in that picture, but the most obvious trait they all share is the fact that they are young and not yet exposed to the bitterness the rest grow into with adulthood, so I would chalk it up to experience and let it go..

Precisely. I am part Mexican, born and raised in Fresno, CA and about as Americanized as can be, but with so many prejudices stemming from the immigration problem, this makes it bad for any person of Latin descent.

To all the people who are condoning hateful/harmful speech because it is "humorous" and that people need to be less politically correct, you guys really need to study the effects of racism. If someone dressed up as the KKK for Halloween, would you still think that people need to be less politically correct or that is was a joke? Clearly we do not live in a colorblind society that so many Americans espouse.

Ok I apologize, I should have made the link clearer. I would like to start off though by saying that we cannot understand racism unless we look back in history. The reason why I used the KKK was to make an extreme point. Before the KKK, Whites believed African Americans to be scientifically inferior/subhuman. As time went on, many of these stereotypes changed and that Blacks were incapable of taking care of themselves, were unintelligent, etc. etc. These same stereotypes helped fuel a blacklash when African Americans began to fight for their civil rights and KKK believed that there were somehow superior to blacks (which was a historical stereotype)

...get educated. Mocking Snooki is mocking her as an individual, not because of her Italian heritage. The picture is clearly making fun of the Mexican race as a whole. Your sense of logic is appalling.

Mexican is a nationality you absolute complete waste of a soul. It is not a race. Just like American is not a race. None of this is racist at all. Crying, whimpering, white-hating, racist liberals. . .you all get to live with the trash once American divides itself. Good luck with your 'no-racism' society.

I find it more offensive how Latinos in general are portrayed in the media. They are always cooks, dishwashers, gang members, or maids. Also they are always depicted by some one with a "stereotypical" appearance. Latinos come in all shapes and colors. One perfect example is Sofia Vergara. She is a natural blonde but to make her seem more "believable" as a Latina she dyed her hair brown. If you think Latinos only have one look, you need to educate yourself on the history of Latin America.

I believe that this is yet another result of people's inability to clearly understand Baye's theorem and conditional probability. Although many cleaning people, gardeners, etc are Latino, but that doesn't mean that most Latino's are cleaning people or gardeners.

I fail to see the problem here. We as people constantly publicly bash stereotypes for fun. So what if a bunch of drunk college girls pose as some Mexican stereotype. I've seen countless pictures of people making fun of drunk college girls(especially blonde ones).

Please do us a favor and get educated. If you don't understand the harmful effects of hate speech, let me teach you. Studies have shown psychological damage: (1) Minority mothers denied the significance of color in their lives, yet were morbidly sensitive to matters of race. Some identified excessively with whites, accepting whiteness as superior. ( (2)see how African American children choose their dolls; when asked they said the white doll was the better one) (3) The stresses of racial abuse lead to higher blood pressure, hypertension, and risk of stroke. Racism goes against our very principle that "all men are created equal". The fact that you just think this is funny makes me sad.

Really? Is that how it goes Jonnie Boy? Aww, poor hate speech victims. I think we ought to just give up all our whites, heh, I mean rights as whites people (I am so racist, I just cant stop thinking about being white) and apologize for every offense ever done to anyone liberals see as offensive to anyone even remotely non-white, no matter how insignificant it is. That will solve the issues of poverty, poor education, crime, and their lack of adherance to Federal tax and immigration law. 'Mexicans' deserve all that respect from our society. Funny thing thoughts that once they play by the rules and actually get citizenship, they are not Mexican anymore.

Jon, I would not bother with the ignorant posts, you have made some excellent points and as a person of Native American/Mexican descent and very much Americanized as I was born in Fresno, even I can state this parody from a supposedly intelligent group of women makes ALL Latinos appear as trash.

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